In the cause of environmental conservation the power of the visual media in sensitising audiences and calling them to act has long been recognised. Films that illustrate the beauty of the natural world have inspired and enthused an entire generation of conservationists. They also provide an important historical record of the planet's endangered plants and animals. Of no less importance is the need to engage with environmental filmmakers because they play an important role as agenda setters and shape public opinion on key issues.
This is the context that brings to India- Wildscreen, a special Wildlife and Environmental Film Festival starting this Monday, 10 a.m. at the British Council, New Delhi. The festival will also go to Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Colombo in Sri Lanka. Actor Kunal Kapoor will open the festival in Delhi
The two-day event will host 12 environmental filmmakers from the U.K. and screen films from across the world. These include films that have won Panda awards, nicknamed the Green Oscars. Among the offerings to look out for are Extreme Ice by Noel Dockstader from the U.S. and Challenges of Life by Martha Holmes from the U.K. In the former, remarkable time-lapse footage by one of the world's foremost nature photographers reveals massive glaciers and ice sheets splitting apart, collapsing, and disappearing at a rate that has scientists increasingly alarmed. This NOVA/National Geographic Television special investigates the latest evidence of a radically warming planet.
Challenges of Life reveals some extraordinary strategies developed by organisms to stay alive. Three cheetah brothers have developed a new way of hunting to bring down much bigger prey. A bottlenose dolphin has learnt to surround shoals of fish with a ring of suspended mud — panicked, the fish jump out of the water, right into the waiting dolphins' mouths! When it's breeding time, a male stalk-eyed fly blows air bubbles into his head, pushing his eyes out on long stalks; the male with the widest eye span gets the most girls! Recent Wildscreen winners Rita Banerji and Shilpi Sharma (among other filmmakers like Sandesh Kadur) will share the Indian perspective and their case studies. The programme in each city will comprise master classes on various aspects of filmmaking, like “Trends in Wildlife and Environmental Filmmaking”, “The Magic Art of Storytelling”, “Managing a Production” and “Rules of TV” among others.
What may be of special interest to many is a section devoted to films on climate change. Its main aim is to engage those interested in preserving the region's biodiversity through awareness and creative intervention. Richard Edwards, Wildscreen's Chief Executive says, “We are delighted that Wildscreen is returning to India this year to further develop our relationship with local audiences and filmmakers. India is a key destination for our outreach programme because of the region's rich filmmaking heritage, and because, like many other areas of the world, the natural environment here is under threat from rapid economic development and climate change.”
This festival will hopefully both engage audiences and motivate budding filmmakers to make visually stirring and inspiring films that stimulate a passion for the wonders of life on Earth. For a detailed programme of the festival in each city, visit www.britishcouncil.org.in/wildscreen.
